Despite being one of the most well-known artists on the planet, the singer has insisting it's not something she's ever wanted and the concept of 'fame' actually scares her.

With the release of her long-awaited third album '25' in November, the Someone Like You star has sat down for her first interview in three years and confessed that she'd been worried about stepping back into the spotlight.

"Frightened of it destroying me and it ruining me, and me getting lost and turning into some of the people that I love with my whole musical heart.

The Hello singer continued: "And I get frightened for the people that I love, feeling like they've lost me."

Adele on the cover of I-D Magazine (Image: ALASDAIR MCLELLAN)

It doesn't look like Adele will have much of choice about attention over the next few years. After three years away, her latest single Hello - released last Friday - is already smashing records.

Despite her level of fame the star - who has had a son Angelo since the release of worldwide smash '21' - has managed to live a relatively low key life in the UK.

Admitting it isn't easy to avoid the lurking paparazzi, she explained: "It's definitely harder to avoid it than it is to give into it. I think most people tend to give into it because it is easier, but I just can't."

"Me being photographed in Waitrose is being famous for no reason and that is something that I am not up for and I will not stand for, for myself."

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The Grammy-Award winner revealed that part of her longing for a normal life, is to make sure her music remains down to earth and real.

"It's not me trying to be like f****** anti-famous c***, I just want to have a real life so I can write records," she said. "No one wants to listen to a record from someone that's lost touch with reality. So I live a low-key life for my fans."